ATLS (ADVANCED TRAUMA LIFE SUPPORT) PRETEST
EXAM PREP 2026-2027: THE ULTIMATE VERIFIED
QUESTION BANK WITH EXPERT-VALIDATED ANSWERS
& DETAILED RATIONALES – YOUR GUARANTEED A+
PASS ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT WITH THE MOST
LATEST, UP-TO-DATE CONTENT
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic
after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder. His
blood pressure is initially 80/40 mm Hg. After initial
fluid resuscitation his blood pressure increases to
122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per
minute and his respiratory rate is 28 breaths per
minute. A tube thoracostomy is performed for
decreased left chest breath sounds with the return
of a small amount of blood and no air leak. After
chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step
is:
- Answer-re-examine the chest
1|Page
,A construction worker falls two stories from a
building and sustains bilateral calcaneal fractures. In
the emergency department, he is alert, vital signs
are normal, and he is complaining of severe pain in
both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity
pulses are strong and there is no other deformity.
The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be
confirmed by:
- Answer-complete spine x-ray series
Which of the following is true regarding the initial
resuscitation of a trauma patient?
- Answer-Evidence of improved perfusion after
fluid resuscitation could include improvement in
Glasgow Coma Scale score on reevaluation.
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain
injury, the most important initial step is to:
- Answer-secure the airway
2|Page
, A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man
suffers an estimated acute blood loss of 2 liters.
Which one of the following statements applies to
this patient?
- Answer-An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit
between -6 and -10 mEq/L.
The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has
clinical significance in the management of the
severely injured, gravid woman by:
- Answer-increasing the volume of blood loss to
produce maternal hypotension
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the
adult burn patient is:
- Answer-urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
The diagnosis of shock must include:
- Answer-evidence of inadequate organ perfusion
3|Page
EXAM PREP 2026-2027: THE ULTIMATE VERIFIED
QUESTION BANK WITH EXPERT-VALIDATED ANSWERS
& DETAILED RATIONALES – YOUR GUARANTEED A+
PASS ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT WITH THE MOST
LATEST, UP-TO-DATE CONTENT
A 22-year-old man is hypotensive and tachycardic
after a shotgun wound to the left shoulder. His
blood pressure is initially 80/40 mm Hg. After initial
fluid resuscitation his blood pressure increases to
122/84 mm Hg. His heart rate is now 100 beats per
minute and his respiratory rate is 28 breaths per
minute. A tube thoracostomy is performed for
decreased left chest breath sounds with the return
of a small amount of blood and no air leak. After
chest tube insertion, the most appropriate next step
is:
- Answer-re-examine the chest
1|Page
,A construction worker falls two stories from a
building and sustains bilateral calcaneal fractures. In
the emergency department, he is alert, vital signs
are normal, and he is complaining of severe pain in
both heels and his lower back. Lower extremity
pulses are strong and there is no other deformity.
The suspected diagnosis is most likely to be
confirmed by:
- Answer-complete spine x-ray series
Which of the following is true regarding the initial
resuscitation of a trauma patient?
- Answer-Evidence of improved perfusion after
fluid resuscitation could include improvement in
Glasgow Coma Scale score on reevaluation.
In managing a patient with a severe traumatic brain
injury, the most important initial step is to:
- Answer-secure the airway
2|Page
, A previously healthy, 70-kg (154-pound) man
suffers an estimated acute blood loss of 2 liters.
Which one of the following statements applies to
this patient?
- Answer-An ABG would demonstrate a base deficit
between -6 and -10 mEq/L.
The physiological hypervolemia of pregnancy has
clinical significance in the management of the
severely injured, gravid woman by:
- Answer-increasing the volume of blood loss to
produce maternal hypotension
The best assessment of fluid resuscitation of the
adult burn patient is:
- Answer-urinary output of 0.5 mL/kg/hr
The diagnosis of shock must include:
- Answer-evidence of inadequate organ perfusion
3|Page
